Nitin Gadkari to revive BOT model to transform infra

06 Sep 2023 CW Team

Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, addressed key stakeholders in a plenary session, discussing the pivotal role of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model in bolstering India's infrastructure, economy, and employment opportunities.

Minister Gadkari highlighted the importance of innovative models, particularly BOT, in expediting high-quality infrastructure development with efficiency. He emphasised that the BOT model can enhance the economy, reduce logistics costs, generate employment, and improve public services.

Gadkari emphasised that India's aspirations for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and achieving a $5 trillion economy rely on reducing logistics costs, requiring robust express highways.

His vision aligns with the government's commitment to strengthening infrastructure, reducing transportation bottlenecks, and driving economic growth. Innovative models like BOT are expected to streamline project execution, encourage private sector participation, and ultimately lead to more jobs and better public services.

Minister Gadkari's approach to infrastructure development resonates with the broader government objectives of fortifying India's economy, enhancing connectivity, and realising self-reliance. The plenary session involved discussions on the practical implementation of these ideas, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to pave the way for a prosperous future.

In related news, Nitin Gadkari recently launched the world's first 100% ethanol-based flex-fuel engine car, the Toyota Innova HyCross, demonstrating the government's commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation in the automotive sector.

Infrastructure Transport

15 Sep 2025

Cabinet Approves Key Highway and Rail Projects in Bihar Region

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the four-laning of the 84.2-km Mokama-Munger section of the Buxar-Bhagalpur high-speed corridor, a key industrial region in poll-bound Bihar. The Cabinet also sanctioned the doubling of the 177-km Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat railway line, which passes through Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, at a cost of Rs 31.7 billion.The Rs 44.5 billion highway project will be constructed under the hybrid annuity model, a variant of public-private partnership. The Mokama-Munger stretch was the only remaining two-lane section of the 363-km Buxar-Bhagalpur corridor. Fou..

NGT Issues Notice on Bengaluru Twin Tunnel Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday issued notices in response to a petition filed by Bengaluru Praja Vedike and others, challenging the Bengaluru twin tunnel road project. Petitioners claim the project was “hastily announced” and bypassed mandatory environmental impact assessment procedures.Notices have been served to the Karnataka Government, Greater Bengaluru Authority, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE), the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and project consultants.The 16.74-km twin-tube..

India’s Residential Sales to Dip Slightly in FY26

Residential sales in India’s seven major cities are projected to decline by up to 3 per cent year-on-year in FY26 to 620–640 million square feet (msf), amid a moderation in sales velocity, according to ratings agency Icra.In FY25, sales stood at 643 msf, down 8 per cent YoY, following a sharp contraction in new launches and moderated demand in the affordable and mid-income segments. This slowdown came after the sector posted a robust compound annual growth rate of 26 per cent in area sales between FY22 and FY24.Icra noted: “Having seen a strong upcycle, the sector entered an equilibrium ..